Wednesday, December 31, 2014

In Pastor Charles Stanley’s newest book, Waiting on God – Hope for Today Strength for Tomorrow, I found him to be very compassionate towards hurting people. He’s realistic about the struggles believers face and encourages us to trust God no matter what. Readers learn what it looks like to wait on God. There are times when it may seem like what we are waiting for will never happen. Even then, we are reminded that there is meaning and hope during the times of waiting and that the Lord has a purpose and plan He is working out in our lives.

One of the definitions Charles Stanley shared is that when we wait upon the Lord it’s demonstrated with a directed, purposeful, active and courageous attitude of prayer. He shows examples from scripture what waiting on God looked like in the lives of King David, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph, what lessons they learned and the work that God was doing in their lives and behind the scenes. Throughout this book he also shares experiences from his own life.

Charles Stanley goes in-depth to examine God’s character and who He is. He helps us to look at: what our focus is on and potential idols; how we can discern God’s will; stand firm on God’s word and His promises to believers; how we can wait courageously; and experience joy and reap the rewards of waiting.

I especially appreciated the prayers at the end of each chapter. They are beautifully written with an attitude of humility, thanksgiving, praise, confession of sin and weakness, reminders of God’s greatness, wonder and sovereignty and submission to God’s will and His purpose and plan.

Readers are challenged at the end of each chapter with Points for Active Waiting which included scripture memorization, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and questions to help us examine ourselves.

In chapter 5, Claiming God’s Promises, I wish that early on Charles Stanley had warned readers about taking verses out of context and claiming promises that were not intended for us. In the chapter, he does go into understanding God’s promises and if they are limited vs. general and conditional vs. unconditional. However, with the abuse of the name it and claim it mentality of some churches today, I think it is imperative for Christians to understand God’s word in context and not misapply it.

I would have also liked to have had smaller chapters. There’s a lot of meat to chew on in each of the chapters. Having smaller chapters would have helped break it down into bite size pieces to chew on.

I recommend Charles Stanley’s newest book Waiting on God. I think it will help strengthen and encourage believers who are waiting on God or going through various trials.

I would like to thank Net Galley and publisher Howard Books for the opportunity to read Waiting on God in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

It
was my privilege to read Jim Cymbala’s newest book Storm – Hearing Jesus for The
Times We Live In, coauthored with Jennifer Schuchmann.I’ve never read a Jim Cymbala book before,
but after reading this one I look forward to reading more of his work.

In
Storm, Jim Cymbala Pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle came across as humble,
concerned and broken over some of the trends he’s seeing in today’s Christian
church in America.He also wielded authority
as he spoke truth and warnings from scripture.

This
book was well balanced.Too often I’ve
read books in which Christians share their concerns about the church, but they
seem judgmental and lack grace and mercy and aren’t speaking the truth in
love.Jim Cymbala came across as the man
who after removing the log from his own eye, he gently helps the reader to
remove the speck from their eye.

Jim
speaks, not only to Pastors and church leaders in this book, but also to
congregants and challenges each of us to live in the light of Jesus soon
return.He knows the power of the Gospel
to change hearts, minds and lives of those who truly repent and receive Christ
as Lord and Savior.He also conveys the
importance of daily reading and studying God’s Word for yourself and being a
prayer warrior dependent upon God.

Jim
shares warnings that there is a storm approaching and we need to beware of the
tempest within the church and prayerlessness.I especially appreciated the personal stories he shared about the
radical transformation of some of the people in his church.

I’m
one who likes to underline and make notes in my books.I did a lot of that in Storm.I found myself convicted, challenged,
corrected and encouraged.

I
highly recommend Storm by Jim Cymbala with Jennifer Schuchmann.It’s a book you will want to read, reread and
share with others.

I
would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the
opportunity to read and review this book.I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Friday, December 05, 2014

Lord,
I confess I don’t feel the same drive and passion I once did.But Lord I want that back.Father, I want to love You and listen to Your
word – like I can’t get enough of it.I
want to be captivated by You and Your incomprehensible love.May my eyes be fixed on You.Daily and forever may I be grateful for Your
Son’s sacrifice for my sins and not forget how lost I was before Christ and remember my utter inability to save myself.May I be cognizant of my absolute security in Christ.I want to be aware of the Holy Spirit within
me and His power and the transforming work He is doing in me.I want to have a heart of gratitude and
wonder when I think upon You.I want to
know the unchanging truth from the Word of God.I want to be in awe of grace perfectly balanced with truth, holiness and righteousness.Through Your Holy Spirit I want to love those
with whom love doesn’t come naturally.I
want to be patient, faith-filled and prayerful with those whom I love.I want my prayers to be seasoned with
thanksgiving.I want to be a faithful friend.I want to hunger and thirst for truth and
righteousness found only in You and Your word.I want to daily be transformed by the washing of the water of Your
word.I want to make much of You, more
of others and less of me.I want to
begin each day in Your word, not racing through it because of pressures and
demands.I want to be slow to anger and
slow to speak, but quick to come to Your throne of grace in prayer.I want abide in the Vine and bear much fruit –
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and
self-control.I want to be wise and
prudent and daily put on the full armor of God – belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness,
feet shod with the Gospel of peace, helmet of salvation, take up the shield of
faith, skillfully wield the Sword of the Spirit and be praying always.Make me and mold me through the Holy Spirit
who dwells within me and wash me with Your word.Thank You Father for giving me a heart of
flesh and that I am a new creation in Christ.It’s in His precious and mighty name I pray.Amen!

Sword of the Spirit

A Little Something

I’m 57 and though I’m not what I should be, praise God I’m not what I used to be. I spent many years angry at God, running from Him and tried to deny His existence. Through the loving witness of my neighbors the Bocks, I saw a clear picture of God who loves me. At 32, I recognized I was a sinner, repented of my sins and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I know that God still answers prayers. For many years I prayed for a husband and on the eve of my 49th birthday, God brought Chris Wachtel into my life and 7 months later we were married. I am conservative in my politics, but a former liberal. I even campaigned for Jimmy Carter and I rue that day. I find liberal leftist thinking, while well intentioned, ultimately flawed. I’ve been abundantly blessed by God with gifted pastors and teachers. I’m most grateful for Pastors Philip De Courcy and Chuck Obremski who faithfully taught the Word of God. I've also grown through BSF and CBS Bible Studies. God has recently moved us 1,500 miles from CA to TX. Not sure what the Lord will be doing in us and through us, but I am grateful to be walking with and depending on Him each day.

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My Colors Will Be Clear

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

I no longer need position, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my destination is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few. My Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of the One that gave me life, drew the line in blood for me in the hour of my destiny.

I am one of Christ's remnant people. I belong to Him and none other. All I do to bring this life to another is done because of that blood covenant poured out for me.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. I must share will all that one more might hear and be drawn from the flaming darkness that longs to consume. Reach for another, touch but one more!

Until that moment...He will have no problem in recognizing me- my colors will be clear!!!

Not only are the words inspiring but so is the man behind them. The above letter was written by a Pastor in Africa who was undergoing severe persecution. On the eve of his execution he sat down and wrote the above note.